Kuzun | Shahdag Ski Resort in Qusar | It is located in picturesque place, 230km north of Baku. You can stay in hotel, featuring swimming pool, gym nad

hot - Fernwayer Travel Stories & Experiences

Azerbaijan

It is located in picturesque place, 230km north of Baku. You can stay in hotel, featuring swimming pool, gym nad sauna. There are lots of activities available, such as skiing, snowboarding, riding a snowmobile, roller coaster and etc.

Shahdag Ski Resort in Qusar

Chile

What does the southern end of the world look like? After five and a half l-o-n-g hours from Punta Arenas, out of the blue appears Hotel Explora Salto Chico - and it’s breathtaking. With a stunning, modern countenance, views-to-die-for of Torres del Paine (the Towers) and Cuernos del Paine (the Horns), and the sound of the Salto Chico waterfall as we linger over amazing food and excellent Chilean wine. 
🦙
The Explora guides ensure they get us out of bed. My favorite experience - a day-long hike to Grey glacier. And when we get really close, our guides hop into a little boat to fetch thousand-year-old ice from the glacier for little drinks of Pisco Sour! 

Patagonia’s Parc Nacional Torres del Paine has picture postcard views everywhere. If you are a keen hiker, try the Circuit or the W. I stick to day hikes as a rule - if you are like me, try Grey Glacier, French Valley Glacier or Base of the Paine Towers.

Going to Extremes

United States

El Salvador

A great, cheap and quiet place to relax in nature!  Easy to get to by car from Chalchuapa after visiting the Mayan ruins.

Hot Falls

France

This city known for its wine is just gorgeous. Though hot in summer, it is stunning! Definitely worth a visit and if you have time the surroundings small town also known for their wine. 

In Bordeaux, be sure to walk down rue sainte Catherine, the longest pedestrian street in Europe! There will be plenty of shopping to do, and the main square with the cathedral is also a must see. The bell tower is not attached to the church and is able to be climbed for gorgeous views.

Bordeaux

Italy

On a sunrise photo-walk, we are at Piazza San Marco. At 5AM, it’s empty, other than for a few pigeons, and a photo enthusiast like ourselves. And we run across - with tripods - to get to the Canal looking out towards San Giorgio Maggiore Island.

Our objective? To watch and photograph gondolas swaying in the canals of Venice. It’s perfect for long exposure shots. The gondolas and docks are lit up by street lights and the sky has the perfect blend of dark and light.

We then rush over to the vaporetto stand near Europa & Regina Hotel overlooking Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, for another Gondola scene (pictured) while the light is still good.

So, how many gondolas can you get into one frame?

We head out down the Grand Canal to the Rialto Fish Market. Some sellers are packing up after a good morning, but we’re able to get some great shots of everyday life. 

We walk back over Rialto bridge (great for photos of activity on the Canal) back to the hotel for breakfast.

How Many Gondolas?

Morocco

Yves Saint Laurent gifted Jardin Majorelle to Marrakech, the city that adopted him and his partner in the 60s. They bought an electric-blue villa and its garden, preserved the vision of its original owner (landscape painter Jacques Majorelle), and opened it to the public. 

What makes this feel like a psychedelic mirage in the desert?

Hot pink bougainvillea bursting from terracotta planters. Architectural cacti in lemon-yellow planters. Bamboos growing against cobalt-blue walls. Colorful birds flitting through palm trees. Saint Laurent’s gorgeous collection of Moroccan art, that I totally covet. 

It also has a museum that features jewelry in a setting that our guide Khadija keeps referring to as “a dream”. A dark room with a star-spangled ceiling and low voltage spotlights shining on stunning jewelry sets.

Khadija’s right. Please let all my dreams be like this place.

Psychedelic Mirage

Namibia

It’s a new day in Sossusvlei. And I am rising towards the sky, timed perfectly with the rising sun, in a wicker basket attached to a hot air balloon. It’s my first balloon ride!

The sand dunes of the Namib desert are taking their time turning orange in the glow of dawn. Our pilot tells us that in Namibia, the only time one can fly a balloon is the sunrise hour. She can’t steer the balloon but she can control the altitude, and depending on the wind channels at each altitude, choose her preferred “course”. 

It’s more peaceful than I imagined. The sound of quiet is unnerving, but no one in the gondola wants to break the peace. In fact, the only sound to be heard is the feverish clicking of cameras. I could get used to seeing the world from this perspective.

Thanks to Namib Sky Balloon Safaris.

Safari from the sky

Norway

I N G R E D I E N T S 
One persistent cloud
Assorted resident ghosts
Longest fjord you can find
Pinch of recklessness

D I R E C T I O N S
1. Drive to Flåm. Navigate hairpin bends and tunnels alongside World Heritage fjords. If you plan well, you can even include the 24.5 km Lærdal Tunnel in your route – an engineering phenomenon, with psychedelic lighting.

2. When you encounter an astonishingly long cloud, you know you have arrived. “Flåm” means "little place between steep mountains”. Perfect for cycling and hiking.

3. Stay at the historic Fretheim Hotel – architecturally delightful, white wooden building located at the head of a mighty fjord. The historic rooms are described as places ‘where the atmosphere from the 1800s still lingers’.

4. Try to get up before 10 AM for an exhilarating RIB boat ride across to World Heritage Nærøyfjord.

5. Take the 2-hour round trip Flåm Railway to Myrdal. Climb 900m and see stunning views that only a hairpin tunnel that twists 180° can provide.

Viking Mashup

Spain

A road trip through Spain is literally the best option for those looking for a local, less touristic experience. You can basically rent a car anywhere you want – we started in Barcelona, heading down the coast, and taking stops in Ebro Delta and Denia and other sleepy beach towns down the road. One of our highlights was the Spanish town of Cartagena – a historical hub with beautiful angled roads, traditional culture to explore (expect to be invited to some Cerveza by the locals), and history lessons about Phoenician traders, Roman soldiers, and Christian Reconquistas. If you have some days left, visiting Andalusia is a must. It's by far the most beautiful region in Spain and is known for its majestic horse breed, pristine beaches, hot weather, and super friendly culture. 
All in all, it took us two weeks to get down the coast – but you can make it in a week as well – though you might have less time to explore, sunbathe, and learn about the history of Spain

Off-the-beaten-path

Colombia

My sister and I flew into Las Vegas to then see the Grand Canyon. We woke early to get picked up at our hotel and the tour took us to the Hoover Dam, a stop on Route 66 (where the Cars movie took place), and finally the Grand Canyon. We did an easy hike but it took about 4 hours. We stopped multiple times for pictures. It was amazing. The pictures don’t do it justice. 

My sister and I wish we had spent more time there and maybe hiking a different trail.

Grand Canyon Excursion

Visit the icon Cloud Gate sculpture in Millennium Park. Eat great Chicago classics like Portillos hotdogs and Lou’s pizza. Enjoy views from the Willis tower or spend a day on Navy Pier!

Wander the city

I have traveled to Moab, Utah on more than one occasion and every time it has been an absolute blast! This small, more local town is home to some amazing things that you can’t find anywhere else. 

There is a place there that I travel to every time called Mill Creek Canyon. It is a short hike to a watering hole that supplies the river you will have to cross more than once. Once you reach the watering hole, you will find an amazing view and usually many friendly people depending on what time you go. 

Now, it can get pretty hot in Utah so don’t forget the water and the sunblock, as well as a swimming suit!

The main attraction there is the cliff jumping! You can climb up the small waterfall and there will be a small ledge where you can jump from into the freezing water below. Let me tell you, it’s an absolute blast that you will never forget! 

I highly recommend this location to all people, even if you’re just passing through

Hope to see you in Moab!

Azerbaijan

Republic of Dagestan

Shahdag Ski Resort in Qusar

Chile

Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica

Going to Extremes

El Salvador

Ahuachapán Department

Hot Falls

France

Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Bordeaux

Italy

Veneto

How Many Gondolas?

Morocco

Marrakesh-Safi

Psychedelic Mirage

Namibia

Hardap Region

Safari from the sky

Norway

Vestland

Viking Mashup

Spain

Region of Murcia

Off-the-beaten-path

United States

Arizona

Grand Canyon Excursion

Illinois

Wander the city

Utah

Living it up in Moab